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The Future Tenses in English

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English has several ways to talk about the future. The three you need most are “will” (predictions, decisions made now, offers and promises), “going to” (plans and predictions based on evidence), and the present continuous (fixed arrangements). Which one you choose depends on how sure or how planned the future action is.

This guide is for learners around A2 to B1 who know “will” but are not sure when to use “going to” or the present continuous instead. By the end you will know each form, the situation it fits, how to choose between them, and the common mistakes to avoid. There is a short video and three exercises to practise on this page.

On this page

Video summary

This short video is a sample from a Live English Club session. Watch it for the overview, then use the sections below as your reference.

Will (the simple future)

Form will plus the base verb for every subject: I will, you will, she will. The short form is ‘ll and the negative is won’t.

Use “will” for a prediction or opinion about the future, for a decision made at the moment of speaking, and for offers and promises.

It will rain tomorrow. (prediction)
I think you will like the film. (opinion)
The phone’s ringing. I‘ll get it. (decision made now)
I will help you with your bags. (offer / promise)

Going to

Form am / is / are going to plus the base verb: I am going to, she is going to, they are going to.

Use “going to” for a plan or intention you already have, and for a prediction based on evidence you can see now.

I‘m going to study medicine. (plan already decided)
Several staff are going to be promoted next month. (intention)
Look at those clouds. It‘s going to rain. (prediction from evidence)

The difference from “will” is preparation. “Going to” says the decision was made before now; “will” often marks a decision made as you speak.

Present continuous for the future

The present continuous (am/is/are + -ing) is common for fixed arrangements, especially social or travel plans with a person and a time.

I‘m meeting the client at three.
We‘re flying to Madrid on Saturday.
She‘s having lunch with Tom tomorrow.

“Going to” and the present continuous often overlap for plans. The continuous sounds most natural when the arrangement is fixed and involves other people.

Present simple for the future

Use the present simple for scheduled events set by a timetable: transport, cinemas, classes and opening times.

The train leaves at 9am.
The film starts at eight.
Our meeting is on Monday.

Choosing the right one

Situation Use Example
Prediction or opinion will You’ll enjoy it.
Decision made now will I’ll answer the door.
Offer or promise will I’ll call you later.
Plan or intention going to We’re going to move house.
Prediction from evidence going to It’s going to rain.
Fixed arrangement present continuous I’m seeing the dentist at four.
Timetable present simple The bus leaves at six.

Common mistakes

✗ I will to call you tomorrow.

✓ I will call you tomorrow.

After “will”, use the base verb with no “to”.

✗ Look at the sky. It will rain.

✓ Look at the sky. It‘s going to rain.

When the evidence is in front of you, “going to” fits better than “will”.

✗ I will meet Sara tomorrow at 6. (already arranged)

✓ I‘m meeting Sara tomorrow at 6.

For a fixed arrangement with a person and a time, use the present continuous.

Exercises

Practise on this page. Try each one, then check your answers instantly.

Exercise 1: Fill the blank with the right future tense

Exercise 2: Choose the right future form

Exercise 3: What type of future?

The forms are simple; picking the right one in the moment is the real skill. Talk about your plans, predictions and arrangements with an experienced native teacher in a free trial lesson and get corrected as you speak. No credit card needed.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between “will” and “going to”?
Use “will” for a prediction, an opinion, or a decision you make as you speak (The phone’s ringing, I’ll get it). Use “going to” for a plan you already had before speaking, or a prediction based on evidence you can see (Look at those clouds, it’s going to rain). The key difference is whether the decision is made now or was made earlier.
Can I use the present continuous to talk about the future?
Yes. The present continuous is the natural choice for fixed arrangements, especially with a person and a time: I’m meeting Sara at three, We’re flying to Madrid on Saturday. The plan is already set, which is why the continuous works.
When do I use the present simple for the future?
Use the present simple for scheduled events fixed by a timetable: transport, films, classes and opening times. For example: The train leaves at 9am, The film starts at eight. It is not about your personal plans, but about a published schedule.
How many future tenses are there in English?
English does not have a single future tense the way it has a past tense. Instead it uses several forms to talk about the future. The main ones are will, going to, the present continuous, and the present simple, plus the future continuous and future perfect for more advanced use. This guide covers the four you need most.

Key takeaways

  • English talks about the future with several forms, not one single tense.
  • Will = predictions, opinions, decisions made now, offers and promises. Use the base verb, no “to”.
  • Going to = plans decided earlier and predictions based on evidence.
  • Present continuous = fixed arrangements; present simple = timetables.

Keep learning

Written and reviewed by the experienced native English teachers at Live English, online since 2007. The video is a sample from the weekly grammar sessions in the Live English Club.